Method and apparatus for drawing metal



-April 14, 1942. A. SIMONS 2,279,349

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING METAL 4 Filed A ril 26, 1940 ATTORNEYPatented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,279,349 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR DRAWING METAL Aaron Simons, Bronx', N. Y. ApplicationApril 26, 1940, Serial No. 331,692

15 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for drawing metal strips, sheets andthe like between rotatable die members or rolls of extremely smalldiameter adjustable toward and from each bers or rolls are restrainedagainst bending in any direction, and are retained in fixed positionwhile rotating on their axes, and 'wherein longi- .tudinal frictionhearings or backings are provided for the die members or rolls whichbearings reciprocate back and forth in opposed dimotions to eachotherwhile said die members or rolls are rotated, thereby controlling fric-.'

- tional relationship in an apparatus of the class described; a furtherobject being to provide reciprocating longitudinal friction bearings orbackings for rotatable rolls which support the parent that the combinedrotary movement of the rolls and reciprocating movement of the backingswill materially reduce the frictional surface resistance between therolls and their backings, and permit the rolls to be rotated at alltimes in their respective hearings or backmgs.

In Fig. l of the drawing is shown a diagrammatic partial sectional viewthrough a machine substantially of the type and kind disclosed in myapplication hereinbefore referred to; such parts only of the machinebeing shown as .are necessary to illustrate the operation and structuralarrangement of the die members or rolls and their longitudinal frictionhearings or backings. At I0 is shown part of the base or frame of themachine in which is supported a shaft ll driven from a suitable motor.On this shaft rolls throughout the full working length of the rolls; andwith these and other'objects in view the invention consists in themethod of producing strips or sheets and in an apparatus as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which:

Fig. through a part of an apparatus or rolling mill made according to myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is apartial section Fig. 1.

.M present invention relates to a machine of the general type and kindmore fully disclosed in, for example, myprior application, Ser. No.

onthe line 3-3 of 269,373, filed April 22, 1939, of which thisapplication. constitutes a continuation in part.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus for drawingstrip or sheet material and a method of producing such material byutilizing non-reciprocating rolls which are arranged in reciprocatingfriction bearings are backings, with independent means for rotating saidrolls, thereby facilitating the production of drawn products havingsmooth-finish, or in other words, unmarr'ed surfaces. This result ismade possible by the use of combined rotatable rolls and reciprocatingbearings or backings.- Furthermore, it (be apparent that by utilizingdifferent drives for the rolls, the rolls may be rotated at "surfacespeeds materially different from-the speed of travel o'ffthe outgoingreduced product, thereby facilitating the'fof the workpiece between therolls. It will-also be ap- 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view isarranged a small gear [2 operatively engaging large gears I3, only oneof which is indicated. The gears l3 are disposed in a housing H adjacentto and form .part of the frame structure of the machine. The, gears l3are utilized to drive the drums supporting the workpiece and for drawingthe workpiece in either of two directions through the machine as taughtin said prior application. A schematic showing of the drums referred tois indicated at I3a, 13b, in Fig. .2 of the drawing, and the shaft ofone.-

of these drums is'indicated at I30. The workpiece or strip is indicatedat l3d.

Arranged upon the frame is a suitable casing I5 in which is supported ashaft l6 driven from the shaft ll through achain and sprocket con- Inthe housing I5 is also struction as at I I. supporteda short shaft l8driven from the shaft it through gears l9 and 20 on the shafts l6 and i8respectively; Arranged upon the shaft I8 within the housing I5 is anoblique cylinder 2| which is adapted to impart reciprocating movement tobearings or backings 22, 23 of die members or rolls 24, 25. The cylinder2| has extending arms 26, 21 operating in drive rods 28,v 29respectively. The rods '28, 29 extend through at least one end of thecasing l5 and th rod 28 operates in a bearing plate 30- which also formsa bearing for the shaft l6 and the roll '25.

At 3| is shown a die block arranged upon the frame [0 of the machine,and the shaft 16 extends into and through this block and is arranged insuitable bearings 32 therein. On the shaft. I6 is a gear 33 which mesheswith a gear 34 arranged upon. the die member or roll 25, whereby thesar'ne'is rotated; The other or up-' per roll 24 placed in operativeengagement I with the shaft l6 through agear 35, an inter-- mediate gear"35, and a gear '31. The gear 36 is -mounted-upon pivotally coupledlinks, as in-'. 'dicated in Fig. 2, so as to compensate for the slightvertical adjustment of the roll 24"with respect to the roll 25 in gagingthe spacing of said rolls one from the other in controlling thereduction in thickness of the workpiece to be drawn between said rolls.

At 38 is shown a vertically adjustable block with which is coupled thefriction bearing or backing 22 and roll 24. The block 38 is adjustedvertically through the medium of a hand wheel 39, on the shaft 40 ofwhich-are worms operating in connection with worm gears 4|. The latterare arranged on screw rods 42 which are coupled with the block 38. Thespecific structure of this vertically adjustable block and the manner ofits mounting is also disclosed in detail in the prior application andforms no direct part of the present invention aside from indicating ameans of adjusting the parts.

Upon the block 3| is arranged a main support or backing 43 which may beof any desired construction and particularly of such material as to forma proper bearing and mounting for the reciprocating bearings or backings22, 23. The latter seat in recesses formed in the support 43 as well asa corresponding support 43a supported on the block 38.

The protruding ends of the backings 22, 23 are channeled to receivefork-shaped pins 44 and 45 respectively. These pins are supported uponand movable with the rods 28 and 29. While the relationship between thepin 45 and backing 23 is relatively fixed, it will appear that theforked pin 44 is provided to compensate for vertical adjustment of theupper backing 22. It will of course be understood that the end portion29a of the rod 29 is of O-frame construction so as to envelope the gearsas well as the bearing plate 30, note for example, Fig. 3, and providefor the reciprocating movement which is imparted to the' backing 23.

Movable with the block 38 is a bracket 38a forming a bearing and supportfor the outer end of the roll 24. In the present construction, it willbe understood that the die members or rolls 24 and 25 are maintained ina fixed position longitudinally with respect to each other, or in otherwords are not reciprocated. However, these rolls are rotated through thegears employed, and by changing the ratio of gearing, these rolls may bedriven at different speeds. In some instances, the surface speed of therolls may be less than the speed of the outcoming drawn product.However, in operating upon some types and kinds of workpieces, the speedof rotation of the rolls may be equal to or even greater than themovement of the outcoming product.

In the operation of themachine, it will be understood that the block 38will be adjusted to provide the desired or predetermined spacing betweenthe rolls 24, 25. As the strip is drawn between the rolls from one ofthe drums actuated through one of the gears l3, the backings 22, 23 arereciprocated back and forth in opposite directions to each other andlongitudinally of the axes of the rolls while said rolls are beingrotated in the manner heretofore described. This sliding reciprocatingmovement of the backings sistance between the rolls and their respectivebackings to prevent binding action and to permit the rolls tofrotate atthe desired speed to 'will sufficiently reduce the frictional surfacerequired, after the workpiece has been drawn through the machine in onedirection, suitable means may be provided to throw the opposed drum intooperative position so as to again draw the workpiece through the machinein a direction opposite to the first mentioned direction. It

will beunderstood that suitable adjustment of the block 38 has been madeto provide the closer spacing of the rolls 24, 25 to produce thefurtherreduction in thickness of the workpiece constituting the pre-drawnproduct. I

It will of course be apparent that in machines of the type and kindunder consideration, many devices and mechanisms are employed to controland regulate the several parts, and in lubricating the parts includingthe workpiece, but as such' to maintain a constant hearing or backingthere- In the same sense, the fixed or stationary supports are alsoextended to fully and amply for.

cover this working length of the rolls. In different capacity machines,the structures will be made to suit the workpieces to be handled in themachine, and in this respect, the present illustration is representativeof only one type and kind of machine, and even here the illustration isto be regarded as more diagrammatic than otherwise.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for drawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thicknessthereof, comprising two relatively adjustable die members between whicha workpiece is drawn, means independent of the workpiece for rotatingsaid diemembers while maintaining fixed relationship to each other, abacking for each die member, and means for reciprocating said backingsin opposite directions to each other and longitudinally of thedie'members while said die member are rotated. 1 2. An apparatus fordrawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thickness thereof, comprisingtwo relatively adjustable die members between which a workpiece is.drawn, means independent of the workpiece for rotating said die memberswhile maintaining fixed relationship to each other, a backing for eachdie member, means for reciprocating said backings in opposite directionsto each other and longitudinally of the die members while said diemembers are rotated, and means to adjust one of said die membersincluding the backing therefor toward and from the other die member andbacking to control and .regulate spacing between said die members.

tween which a workpiece is drawn, means independent of the workpiece forrotating said die members while maintaining fixed relationship to eachother, a backing for each die member,

governing the reduction formed in the thickness.

of a predetermined workpiece drawn between said rolls, means for drawinga workpiece between the rolls, means imdependent of the workpiece forrotating the rolls, longitudinal friction bear-' ings for said rolls,means for reciprocating the bearings in opposite directions to eachother longitudinally of the axes of said rolls and maintaining thehearings in engagement with the working length of the rolls, and meansarranged longitudinally of the working length of the rolls formingsupports for said bearings in which said bearings are slidably mounted.

5. An apparatus fordrawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thicknessthereof, comprising two elongated rolls arranged in parallelrelationship, means adjusting the rolls with respect to each other tocontrol spacing therebetween in governing the reduction formed in thethickness of a predetermined workpiece drawn be-. tween said rolls,means for drawing a workpiece the workpiece for rotating said rolls, andmeans for reciprocating said bearings parallel to the axis of said rollsto reduce friction between the bearings and rolls.

' 9. The method of controlling frictional relationships in a pull-mill,which includes the steps of supporting the working rolls throughouttheir operative length, pulling a workpiece between said rolls, rotatingsaid rolls independently of said workpiece, and moving the working rollsupports parallel to the axis of said rolls while said rolls arerotated.

10. The method of operating a strip mill which includes the steps ofsupporting the working rolls throughout their operative length,maintaining the rolls in predetermined fixed relationship with respectto each other, reciprocating the working roll supports parallel to theaxis of said rolls, pulling astrip through said working rolls, androtating the rolls in the supports independently of said strip.

I 11. The method of controlling frictional relationship in drawingelongated workpieces, which includes the steps of supporting each rollof a pair of working rolls throughout its operative length in a backingreciprocated parallel to the between the rolls, means independent of theworkpiecefor rotating the rolls, longitudinal friction bearings for saidrolls, means for reciprocating the hearings in opposite directions toeach other longitudinally of the axes of said rolls and maintaining thebearings in engagement with the working length of the rolls, meansarranged longitudinally of the working length of the rolls formingsupports for said hearings in which said bearings are slidably mounted,and a single driven element for simultaneously imparting reciprocatingmovement to said bearings.

6. In a rolling mill for reducing the thickness of an elongatedworkpiece, a pair of working which a workpiecepasses, a pair ofbackings.

for said rolls, means for reciprocating said back- I ings in oppositedirections to each other and parallel to the axes of said rolls whilemaintaining the rollsagainst longitudinal axial movement with respect toeach other, means independent of the workpiece for rotating said rollsupon their axes and while said bearings are reciprocated longitudinallyof the rolls, means for adjusting the spacing of the rolls to controlthe reduction in a predetermined workpiece'to be passed through themachine, and means for drawing a workpiece between said adjusted androtatedrolls.

8. In a rolling mill, a pair of worlnng rolls between which aworkpiecepasses, supporting. bearings for said working rolls, means independentof axis of the rolls while rotating the rolls within said bearingsindependently of the passage of a workpiece between said rolls. 7

v 12. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiecewhich includcsthe steps of supporting a pair of dies in predeterminedspaced parallel relationship to each other throughout their operativelength, moving die supportsand backings parallel to the axis of the diesin opposite directions to each other while rotating the dies within saidsupports in controlling frictional relationship while pulling a work-.

piece between said dies independently of the rotation of said dies.

' 1 3. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece,comprising mechanically drawing a workpiece between a pair of diemembers, supporting the die members throughout their operative length,and decreasing the frictional surface resistance between said supportsand said die members by reciprocating the supports for the die membersparallel to the axes thereof while rotating the die members on theiraxes, thereby facilitating the drawingof the workpiece between saidrotated die members.

14. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece,comprising mechanically drawing a workpiece between a pair of diemembers, supporting the die members throughout their operative length,and decreasing the frictional surface resistance between said supportsandsaid die members by reciprocating the supports for the die membersparallel to the axes thereof while rotating the die members on theiraxes independently of the drawn workpiece, thereby facilitating therotation of said die members in their respective supports.

15. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece,comprising mechanically drawing a workpiece between a pair of elementsrotated independently of the drawn workpiece and maintained inpredetermined spaced and longitudinal relationship with respect to eachother, while reciprocating backings for said elements parallel to theaxes thereof and in opposite directions to each other, and reciprocatingsaid backings in stationary bearings extending throughout the operativelength of said elements.

. AARON SIMONS.

